Algerian Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdelouahab Saidani on Sunday paid a courtesy call on Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram at the latter’s office in Dhaka.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said the strong people-to-people contact and cultural ties between the two nations would accelerate future joint progress.
During the meeting, Speaker emphasised that the strengthening of cultural bonds would accelerate the joint progress of Bangladesh and Algeria in the coming years.
The Speaker said Algeria’s support for Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly has further strengthened the friendly relations between the two countries.
Addressing the domestic political landscape, Speaker Ahmed remarked that democracy in Bangladesh had been endangered for more than one and a half decades. He highlighted the “unforgettable” sacrifices of former prime minister Khaleda Zia in overcoming the instability caused by the previous administration’s oppression of opposition parties and extrajudicial killings.
He further stated that the people of Bangladesh have reclaimed their voting rights and seen the restoration of democracy through the latest free and fair general elections. In response, Ambassador Saidani praised the transparency and fair environment of the recent elections and assured Algeria’s continued support for Bangladesh’s democratic progress.
The two officials held detailed discussions on mutual cooperation across several key sectors, including sports, technical assistance, shipbuilding, education, energy, and the export of ready-made garments.
To maintain strong diplomatic momentum, Speaker Ahmed stressed the importance of forming a Parliamentary Friendship Group and exchanging visits between parliamentary delegations.
Members of the Algerian embassy delegation and relevant senior officials of the Bangladesh National Parliament Secretariat were present at the event.
